Mesh machine



May 3, 1927.

F. H. LYNDS MESH MACHINE Filed July 2. 1925 4 sheets-Sheet 1 May 3,1927.v

F. H. LYNDs MESH MACHINE Filed Jul.v 2, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 d E ik m, fclodf F. H. LYNDS MESH uAcHIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 2 1925 NyEN R A daag-eind;

May 3 1927.

1,627,397 F. H. LYNDS K MESH MACHINE Filed July 2. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED HARRIS LYNDS, OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR'TO WHI'I; ING & DAVIS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MESH MACHINE.

Application filed July 2,

This invention relates to machines for uniting pieces of mesh fabric, and more particularly that kind of fabric known as lishscale mesh. This mesh consists of'a plurality of rings formed of pieces of wire bent to appropriate form, which are joined together `to produce a fabric by means of spiders of metal which have legs passing throughthe individual links. Each link in the fabric is entered by the legs of four different spiders, but no two links are directly interme-shed.

This (ish-scale mesh is produced in a number of different machines of well-known construction, and is used for many differentpurposes, as, for instance, in the manufacture of ladies7 hand-bags. In such use the piece oi mesh is cut to appropriate form, and then connected to a bag frame in any suitable manner. The pieces oi mesh which are used to form the body of the bag are ordinarily of irregular outline and it frequently happens that there are scrap pieces of mesh left from the main body after the bag pattern has been cut, which usually have t0 be discarded. This adds considerably to the cost of the mesh, since it involves a direct loss of material, time, etc. y

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine by which two pieces of` [ish-scale mesh may be united and by the operation of the machine a number of pieces Aof scrap mesh as above referred to, may thus be connected together so as to form a larger piece of mesh which is of a size suilicient for commercial purposes. l

`A machine which embodies the principles oil'i the present invention includes means for supporting the two pieces of mesh which are to be joined together with their free edges placed parallel a short distance apart. The free rings along the margin of each piece of `mesh are separated a distance equal to the distance between the rings in the completed mesh, and appropriate devices are provided for advancing the two pieces of mesh with a step-by-step movement past suitable tools. A strip of' spider stock is fed to these tools and the individual spiders are cut successively from the end of the strip stock, the legs of the spiders bent so that they may enter the marginal rings of the pieces of mesh, and then the legs, after such insertion, are bent inwardly so as to grip the rings. When this 1925. Serial N0. 41,111.

series of operations has been completed, the two pieces of mesh are advanced by another step, the spider stock is also fed forwardly by the desired amount, and the cycle of operations is repeated.

As the machine continues to operate, a succession of spiders is inserted in the two pieces of mesh in such manner as to connect the marginal rings, and when the whole series of rings along the edges of the two pieces of mesh have thus been treated, a single piece of mesh is produced in'which no line of junction is apparent. This piece of mesh consequently, may be used for ordinary commercial purposes, for which either of the two pieces which have been combined to produce it would be of-insuiiicient size.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a. .machine embodying the principles of the invention, and in these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation with certain parts shown in section;

Fig. 9. is an end view of the machine, looking toward the left in Fig. l;

` Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views taken on the lines 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5 respectively of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the table on which the pieces of mesh are supported;

Fig. 7 is an end View of the parts illustrated in Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are sectional views through the spider-cutting and forming mechanism, showing the parts in three distinct stages in their operation;

Fig. l1 is a` sectional view on 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a View in section of the parts the line by which the spider is inserted through thek Extending from the member and carries an end plate 24, the latter also containing slides, presently to be described.

Mounted in suitable bearings 25 and 26 in brackets extending' upwardly beyond the end of the standard 20, is the main drive shaft 27, carrying a pulley 28 on one end by which the machine may be driven from any suitable source of power. This shaft carries a bevel gear 29, meshing with a similar gear 30 on a shaft 3l which is carried in bearings 32 and 33, the first bearing being mounted in a suitable bracket 34 on top of the plate 23, while the second bearing is mounted in a similar bracket 35 at the top of the end plate 24.

The standard 20 is cut away near its lower end, as at 36, to form an aperture through which extends a table 37, this table supporting the two pieces of mesh which are to be united. As shown more clearly in Fig.v 6, the pieces of mesh consist of rings 38, arranged in rows extending at right angles to each other, and spiders 3 9 are provided for connecting groups of four rings each spider having four legs, each of which enters one of these rings and is then bent inwardly so as to hold the ring tightly. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that each ring is entered by a single leg of four different spiders. The table 37 is provided with a series of ribs spaced apart the distance between the centers of the rings of adjacent rows, and the two pieces of mesh to be united, designated at 41 and 42, are laid on the table with their rows of links l ing on top of the ribs. The spiders, as sliown in Fig. 7, extend downwardly below the plane of the rings and the inwardly turned legs of the spiders, as at 43, enter between the adjacent ribs. As the two pieces of mesh are fed with a step-by-step motion, the ribs serve to keep the marginal rings in the proper alignment.

Mounted in suitable brackets 44 on the standard 20` is a vertical rock shaft 45, which is surrounded by a sleeve 46. The shaft carries a collar 47 at its upper end, having an arm 48 irovided with a roller 49 bearing against the face of the cam 50 on the shaft 27. Beneath this collar 47 is a similar collar 51 having' a similar arm 52 carrying a roller 53 which bears against the opposite face of the cam 50. The cam is provided with cam grooves in which the rollers extend, and as the main shaft 27 is rotated the rock shaft and the sleeves are given appropriate rocking movements by the action of the cam. ,lust above the lower bracket 44 is a collar 54 on the shaft 45 provided with an arm in the end of which is pivotally mounted a lever 56 which is secured at its other end to a slide 57 mounted in suitable guide-ways in the bracket 22. lVithin this slide is a second slide 58 to the rear end of which is secured a lever 59 pivotally secured at its other end to an arm ('30, rigidly secured to a collar 6l on the sleeve 4G. The arms 54 and GO are provided with springs secured at one end to the rigid, upright member 2O and tending to hold these arms in their forward position in which the slides are advanced.

Mounted in the end of the slide 57 in suitable guide-ways, is a vertical slide (S3, formed with an opening 64 through which extends the end of the inner slide 58. This inner slide is made with beveled surfaces 65 at its end and the opening in the vertical slide G3, through which the end of the slide 5 8 extends, is similarly beveled. The form and proportion of the parts is such that when the inner slide 58 is moved relatively to the outer slide 57, the coacting inclined surfaces on the inner slide and on the vertical slide will cause an up-and-down movement of the vertical slide, depending on the direction in which the inner slide is moved. At its upper end the vertical slide carries a die member 66, illustrated more clearly in Fig. l2 and Fig. 13. This die member has four rip-standing prongs 67, spaced so as to enter four adjacent rings in a completed part of the mesh, and its upper face is hollowed out centrally as at 68 for a purpose presently to be described. The table 37 is slotted in its forward edge, as at (39., so that the die member (3G may project upwardly through this slot.

hen the machine is to be started the two pieces of mesh to be united are placed on the table in the relation indicated in Fig. (i, and the inner slide 58 is given a, move` ment which causes the vertical slide ('33 to be drawn dowi'iwardly. rI`he inner and outer slides 58 and 57 now move as one to the left, as shown in Fig. l, then the inner slide is given a movement which causes the vertical slide to move upwardly so that the prongs 67 enter four rings, two on each piece of mesh, as shown in Fig'. 6. lith the vertical slide in its uppermost position, both inner and outer slides are now moved forward until the vertical slide is in the position shown in Fig. l, when the four rings entered by the prongs of the die member on the vertical slide will be in proper position to be acted on. The feeding of the two pieces of mesh is thus brought about by the engagement of the prongs 67 on the die member 6 6 with the rings along the edge ol the mesh, and in order to insure that the mesh will be fed evenly without buckling there are provided presser feet 70, pivotally mounted on a pin 71 in a bracket 72 secured to the lower end of the end plate 24. A spring 73 normally tends to swing these pressure members about their pivot pin so as to raise them free of the mesh. In this bracket, however, is mounted a pin 74 proqui vided with a: handle 75, this pin having a half-round portion which bears against the upper surface of the presser feet. By moving the handle to different positions of adjustment, the pin may be made to bear against the'pressure feet so asto overcome the action of thespring 73 and cause the pressure feet to bear more orjless firmly against the upper faces of the pieces of mesh.

The feeding operation brought about hy the action of the three slides causes the mesh to be advanced with a step-byestep movement, and at each period of rest in the step-by-step movement four of the rings are entered and joined by means of a` spider.

The mechanism byl which this spider` is ini serted in position `and its legs clinched, inchicles means for advancing a strip of spider material, cutting andforming mechanism, 'a'nd means coacting with the die membert for inserting the legs of the spider through the proper rings and then bending these legs inwardly so as to clinch the spider in posi tion. c r 1 I The stock from which the spiders are cut is shown at 76, and consists of a strip of flat metal notched along its edges. and provided with central apertures. By cutting this stock so as to sever Ait at each central aperture, a spider having a central'portionv and four legsis formed. This stock is' fed from the left in Fig.` l, and passes'beneath a friction presser member 77 mounted in a suitable guide-'way in the' plate 23 and norl'naflly pressed downwardly by a spring 7 8. An L- shaped aperture 79 is formed in the plate 23 and thepresser member has pin 80 which enters this aperture'.r At its lower end the presser-bears against the stock and forces it aga-inst the face of av bracket 81, secured to the plate 23. lVith' this arrangement, when the pin is in the upright portion of the aperture the spring is free to force the presser member against the stock, and grip it between the end of the presser member and the bracket. 'lhe pin,`however canbe raised into the flat portion of the aperture thus relieving the stock of pressure.

Moving in a suitable gui de-'way formed in the lower end of the plate- 24 is a slide 82, shown more clearly in Fig. Il. *At the rear end there mounted in this slide an upright standard 83, which is provided with an adjustment screw S4. The standard lies in a slotin the end of the slide, and the adjustment screw permits the standard tobe moved in and out of the slot with a fine adjustment. In the upper end of the standard is pivoted a pawl 85, carried on an eccentric pin having a slotted head 86. This pin is so formed that a fiat tool may be inserted in the slot and the head of the pin turned, whereupon the pawl may be moved laterallyl with respect to the standard.- The pawl at its for.

ward end carries a tooth 87. 'The strip .length of one spider. instant, when the stock has come to rest, the

stock 76, passing from beneath rthe presser foot 77, extends through the end plate 24, entering aguide-way `88, above which the pawl lies. i A spring 89 tends to force the pawl downwardly and as the slide -82 is reciproca-ted in a horizontal direction by suitable means, the pawl enters one of the central apertures in the stock on its movement toward the left, and as the pawl is moved to the right it engages the stock and advances 1t a distance corresponding to the extent of movement of the slide.- The pawl consequently acts as a .feeding means for the stock.`

The slide S2 is provided with an aperture 90, formed in one face, in which is received the rounded head of a levery 91, mounted at the end of a rock shaft 92,y encircled by a coil spring 92 and carried in suitable bear ings 93 and-94 on the side of the end plate 24. At its upper end the shaft carries a collar 95, provided with a camfollower 96, whiehris held against the face of a cam 97 mounted on'the shaft 31 by means of the spring 92, one end of which is secured to the shaft, the other end to the bearingl 93.

As the shaft 31 rotates, the vertical rock ber on the movement of the slide to the left,

asshown in Fig. 1. f

Mounted in' suitable guide-ways in the end plate 24;, is an vL-shaped slide 100, which carries at its upper end a roller 101, bearing against a cam 102, on the shaft 31. A spring 103 enters slot in the L-shaped slide, and tends to force it upwardly so that the roller will bear against the face of the cam. Mounted in the small leg of the L is a tubu-4 lar sleeve104, which is formed with a cut-l ting edge vat itsflower end cooperating with a cutting ,plate 105, mounted in the lower end of the end plate 24 above the reciprocat ing slide S2. The end of the sleeve lies 1n a suitable guide-way formed in the lower end of the plate 24, directly above the guide-way inl which the slide 82 moves. llVithin the sleeve is a plunger 106, mounted in the end of a second slide 107 the upper end of which carries a cam roller 108, bearing against a cam 109 on the shaft 31. A spring 11() encircling the rod and bearing at its upper end against the slide 107, acts to hold the slidey in its uppermost position, so that the. cam roller will bear against the face of the cam. i Y

The operation ofthe parts just described 82, the strip stock is fed forward by the Then at the proper `is as follows: At each operation of the slide slide 100 islmoveddown by its cam 102, the second slide 107 being given a similarmovement, but being so placed relatively to the lirst slide that the end ot the rod 106 lies spaced inwardly from the end of the sleeve 1011. At this time the slide SQvis moved to a position in whichthe die member 98- is inY registry with it, lying beneath the end of the strip stock. rihe.downward movement of the sleeve 1041: causes one spider to be cut from the end ot the strip, the parts occupying the position illustrated inF ig. 8. Upon the further downward movement of the sleeve, the legs of the spider which has been cut from the end of the stock are forced around the pin 98. In such movement, since the bending action is caused by the inner edgey ofthe sleeve 104k, the legs oi' the spider will bear against the inner surface of the sleeve. upwardly tov the position indicated in Fig. 10, carrying the spider 111 with it. The slideiSQ is now moved inwardly as soon as the legs of the spider have cleared the end of. the pin 98; YDuring this movement the tworpieces of mesh have been advanced by the feeding mechanism so that the rings to be entered by the legs ot the spider are in proper position on the die member G6, The sleeve 10st now moves downwardly beyond the end oit" the slide 82 which has been retracted out oi the way until the lower end of the sleeve is in position directly above the end of-the die member G6. rlhe legs of the spider 111 new lie in registry with the prongs (37 on the die member, each of these legs being positioned so as to enter a ring. The secondslide 107 is now moved downwardly by its cam Jforcing the rod 10G downwardly through the sleeve so as to 'force the spider 111 out ot the sleeve.

Each leg et the spider now enters one ot the rings along the line oi'union, and by the continued downward movement of the rod, the legs, having entered the rings, are iorced inwardly by the action ot the dished surface 68 on the end ot the die member 66 until the legs occupy the position designated 112 in Fig-13. Vheu this movemeut has been completed the spider occupies a position relative to the four rings, as shown in Fig. 14. i'lhe sleeve and rod 4are now Vraised out oit coaction with the die member GG, and when they have reached a position above the strip stock, the stock is led by the amount oi another spider. During this movement .the slides 57, 58, and G3 have moved so as to disengage the rings entered by the spider, and to engage another group ol rings, which are then placed in position by the action of the slides. The cycle ot operations is now repeated, and is continuous throughout the length ot' the pieces ot' mesh.l

It will be seen that in this machine the The sleeve wit-hits rod new movesv two pieces oi' mesh to be joined are fed 'forwardly in proper alignment with a step-bystep movement, and in eachperiod of rest ot the movenient a spider which has previously been cut from the stoel; and acted upon so that its legs extend at right angles to the plane ot' the spider, is advanced s0 to insert its legs through the rings to be connected. rilhe legsl ot the spider are then turned inwardly so as to grip the rings firmly, and thereafter the piece of mesh is advanced by another step, during which operation the strip stoclr is ted, the spider formed and held ready to be inserted through the nenty group of rings. The action ot' the machine is positive, and the several grou-ps oi' mechanism are properly timed and co-ordinated so that the cycle of operations is carried on in partsynchronously and in part consecutively, so that the desired uniting operation may be continued 'tor an indelinite period. By the use ot the machine the pieces of mesh which would otherwise be discarded as scrap, may be connected together, and the single piece oi mesh formed by their union is similar in all respects to the mesh as produced on the 1nesli-mal-:ing machines. The machine is simple in operation, and the uniting of the two pieces ol mesh is relatively inexpensive since the operation' of the machine does not require expert attention. Also, the spiders which are used do not have to be separately produced, and ted to the machine from a magazine, as is frequently the case in machines in which such spiders are employed. Un the contrary, the present machine includes suitable tools by which the spiders are formed from the strip stock, interlinked with the rings at the edges oi.5 the two pieces of mesh, and then closed.

I claim:

1. A machine for uniting pieces oi mesh fabric consisting ot rings connected by spiders, which comprises a support for holding two pieces o'lf mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, means Ator holding a supply ot spider material, tools operable to form spiders, insert their legs through a. plurality ot rings at the edges oil. the pieces ot mesh, and turn the legs inwardly to secure the rings, and power-driven devices for giving the tools and the pieces of mesh a relative movement during which the pieces ot mesh are maintained in a plane at all times, and for operating the tools.

2. A machine for uniting pieces of mesh fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, which comprises a support Ylor holding two pieces of mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, means ior holding a supply oi spider material, tools operable to torni spiders, insert their legs through a plurality of rings at the edges ot' the pieces oit mesh, and turn the legs inward- `1y to secure the rings, power-driven devices for giving the tools and the pieces of mesh a step-by-step relative movement during which the pieces of mesh are maintained in a plane at all times, and 'for operating the tools in the periods of rest ot' the step by step movement.

3. A machine ttor uniting pieces of mesh fabric consisting of rings connecte-d by spiders, which comprises a support for holding the two pieces of mesh to be unitedwith their edges parallel but separated, means for holdinga supply oi spider material, tools operable to form spiders, insert their legs through a plurality ot rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, and turn the legs inwardly to secure the rings, means 'for feeding the spider material to the'tools, means for maintaining the pieces oiA mesh in a plane adjacent the tools, means for feeding the spider material to the tools, and power-driven devices ior giving the toolsand the pieces` of mesh a relative movement and for operating the tools.

Li. A machine `for uniting pieces of mesh fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, which comprises a support for holdingthe two pieces oi mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, means for holding a supply of spider material. in the iorm of a strip, tools operable to cut spiders trom the strip, insert the legs of each spider thus severed through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces oitinesh, and turn these legs inwardly to secure the rings, means adjacent the tools for maintaining .the pieces of mesh in a plane, and power-driven devices -for moving the tools and the pieces of mesh relatively and for operating the tools. 5. A machine for uniting pieces oi' mesh fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, which comprises a support tor holding the two pieces ot mesh 4to be united with their edges parallel but separated,`means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, a pair of co-acting tools operable to cut a spiderirom the end of the strip and to bend the legs of the spider substantially at right angles to the pla-ne of the spider', one of these tools being also adapted to insert the legs oit this spider through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, a third tool co-acting with the tool last` mentioned for bending inwardly the legs of the spider so inserted to secure the rings entered, means adjacent the third tool for maintaining the pieces vof mesh in a plane, means tor giving the tools and the pieces of strip material a relative movement to cause the material to be placedin position to be acted on by the tools, and power-driven devices tor moving the tools and the pieces of mesh relatively and for operating the tools in their proper sequence.

6. A machine for uniting pieces of mesh fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, which comprises a support for holding the two pieces of mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, means for holding a supply of spider material, tools operableto form spiders, .insert their legs through a plurality ofrings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, and turn the legs inwardly to secure the rings, means including one of the tools for causing a relative movement of the pi-eces of mesh and the remaining tools, and power-driven devices for operating the tools.

7. A machine for uniting pieces of mesh fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, which comprises a support for holding the two pieces of mesh tobe united with their edges parallel but separated, means for holding a supply of spider material, tools operable to :form spiders, insert their legsy through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, and turn the legs inwardly to secure the rings, one of these tools being also operable to advance the pieces of mesh into position to be acted on, and powerdriven devices for operating the tools.

8. A machine for uniting pieces of mesh fabric consisting of rings yconnected by spiders, which comprises a support for holding the two pieces of mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, a pair of tools operable to form spiders and insert their legs through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, a third tool engaging the said .rings and movable to advance these rings linto posit-lon to receive the spider and thereafter cooperating with one of the tools first mentioned to close the inserted legs to secure the rings, and power-driven devices for operating thetools in their proper sequence.

9. A machine for unitingpieces of mesh fabric consistingv of rings connected by spidersl` which comprises a support ifor holding the two pieces of mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, a pair o f tools operable to form spiders from the said material and to insert the legs of each spider through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces-of mesh, a third tool operable to engage a plurality of rings at the edges of the piece of mesh and to advance the pieces of mesh to place these rings in position to receive the legs of a spider, this tool thereafter cooperating with the tools first mentioned to y turn the legs of the spider inwardly to secure the rings, means 'for maintaining the pieces of .mesh in a plane adjacent the point of action of the tools, and power-driven devices for operating the tools.

10. In a machine for uniting pieces of mesh fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combination of a support for holding the two pieces ot mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, a tool for inserting the legs ot a spider through a. plurality oit rings at the edges oi the pieces of mesh, a second tool cooperating therewith to turn the inserted legs inwardly to secure the rings thus entered, the second tool being movable to advance the pieces ot mesh to place the rings in position to receive the legs ot the spiders, and means tor operating the tools.

11. In a machine ior 4uniting pieces ot mesh fabric consisting of iings connected by spiders, the combination ot a support 'for holding the two pieces ot mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, a tool for inserting the legs of a spider through a plurality ot rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, this tool lying at one side ot' the pieces ot mesh, a second tool lying on the opposite side ot the pieces ot mesh and operable to engage a plurality ot rings in the pieces ot mes i, to move these rings into spidjer-receiving position, and in cooperation with the iirst tool to turn the inserted legs oi' the spider inwardly to secure the rings so entered, and means for operating the tools.

12. ln a machine for uniting pieces ot mesh fabric consisting ot rings connected by spiders, the combination of a support for `holding` the two pieces ot mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel but separated, a tool operable to insert the legs ot' a spider through a plurality of rings at the edges ot' the pieces ot mesh, a second tool movable to engage a plurality of rings of the pieces oi-- mesh, to advance these rings to spider-receiving position, and in cooperation with the first tool to turn inwardly the legs oi the spider inserted through the said rings to secure the rings, means adjacent the tools for holdingthe pieces of mesh in a plane during their movement, and means ior operating the tools.

y13. In a machine for unit-ing pieces of mesh fabric consisting ol rings connected by spiders, the combination ot a support for holding` the two' pieces ot mesh to be united with their edges parallel but separated, a pair ot tools cooperating to torni spiders and to bend the legs of these spiders to give the spiders a staple form, one of the tools being` operable to insert the legs ci" the spider through a plurality ot rings at the edges ot the pieces ot mesh, and a third tool operable to engage a plurality oit' rings at the edges of the pieces ot mesh, to move these rings to a position to receive the legs of the spider, and in cooperation with the inserting tool to turn the legs of the spider inwardly to secure the rings.

14. In a. machine for uniting pieces ot mesh fabric consisting ot rings connected by spiders, the combination ot' a support for holding the two pieces ot mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel but spaced apart, a pair ol slides reciprocating parallel to the plane ot the support and relatively movable, and a third slide carried by the slides iirst mentioned and movable at right angles to the plane ot" the pieces ot' mesh by the relative movement ot' the said slides, the third slide carrying means tor entering a plurality ol rings at the edges ci the pieces ot mesh, whereby upon the simultaneous movement ot the slides lii'st mentioned, the pieces ot mesh will be advanced.

15. In a machine tor uniting pieces ot mesh fabric consisting oi rings connected by spiders, the combination ot a support for holding the two pieces oi mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel but spaced apart, a pair oli' slides reciprocating parallel to the plane of the support, a` third slide carried by the slides iirst mentioned and re iiprocable at right angles to these slides by their relative movement, al die member carried by the third slide and provided with means for engaging a plurality ol rings at the edges ot' the pieces of mesh to cause the latter to be advanced upon the simultaneous movement of the first two slides, and a tool co-acting with the die member for inserting the legs ot a spider through a plu` rality of rings at the edges ot the pieces ot mesh and bending the inserted legs inwardly to secure these rings.

16. In a machine for uniting pieces of tabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combination ot a support for holding the two pieces of mesh to be united with their edges parallel but spaced apart, a pair of slides reciprocable parallel to the plane ot the support and relatively movable, cam surfaces formed on one ot these slides, a third slide mounted in guide-ways in the other ot the slides, and having surfaces contacting with the said 'am surfaces, whereby upon the relative movement ot the first two slides the third slide may be reciprocated in a direction at right angles to their direction of movement, and a die member carried by the third slide and provided with a plurality ot' prongs adapted to enter a plurality oit'vrings at the edges of the pieces ot mesh and thus to cause the pieces ol'I mesh to be advanced on the support upon the siinultaneous moven'ient ot the first two slides.

17. In a machine tor uniting' pieces ot 'tahric consisting ot' rings connected by spiders, the combination ot a support ior holding' the two pieces ot mesh to be united with their edges parallel but spaced apart, a. pair oi" slides reciprocable parallel to the plane oit the support and also relatively movable, cam surfaces formed on one ot these slides, a third slide mounted in guide-ways in the other of the slides, and having surfaces conot rings at the edges of the lactiiig with the said cam surfaces, whereby upon the relative movement o the lirst two slides the third slide may be reciprocated in a direction at right angles tovtheir direc-v tion oit movement, a die member carried by the third slide and provided with a plurality oi prongs adapted to entera plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces ot mesh and thus to cause the pieces oi mesh to be ad vanced on the support upon the simultaneous movement o'l the irst two slides, and a tool movable toward and away fromtlie die member and operable to insert the legs ot" a spider through the rings entered by the die member and in co-action with the die member to cause these legs to be bent inwardly to secure the rings. Y

18. In a machine fabric 'consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combinationoi' support for holding the two pieces of mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel but spaced apart', a slide `reciprocable toward and away from 4the support and cari'yiiig means 'l'or entering a plurality 'oi' rings at lthe edges of the pieces oi mesh, and means for reciprocating this slide toward and away from the pieces of mesh and for moving the slide bodily parallel to the plane of the support vwhereby the slide may act to advance'the pieces of mesh on the support.v

19. In a machine for uniting pieces of fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combination of a support for holding the two pieces mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel but spaced apart, a slide recipi'ocable toward and awa-y from tlie'sul'iport and carrying means for entering a plurality ol? rings at the edges ofthe pieces of mesh, and a pair ot slides relatively movable to advance the lirst slide toward and away vvtrom the pieces ot' mesh, and movable simultaneously to carry the tirst slide bodily ina direction Aparallel to the plane of the support whereby the said means on the third slide acts to advance the pieces of mesh on the support.

20. In a machine for uniting pieces ot :fabric consisting yof rings connected by spiders, the coniibination of means for holding asupply of spider material in the form of a strip, a `die member operable to cutla spider from the end of the strip, a second die member cooperating with the lirst to bend the legs of the spider so cut substantially at right angles to the plane of the spider, a support ior holding the two pieces of mesh to be united with their edges'parallel but spaced apart, means associated with the first die member jlor inserting the bent legs of the spider through a plurality pieces of mesh, a `third die member cooperating with the said means tor turning the inserted legs et the spider inwardly to secure the rings enfor ui'iiting pieces ot tered, the third die member being movable to engage the :successive groups ot' rings and to move these rings into position to receive the legs of the spider, and means for operating the tools `and the said inserting means. y

21. In a machine for uniting pieces of fabric *consisting of rings connected vby spiders, the combination o'l means for holding a supply of spider material in the form` of a strip, a lreciprocable sleeve having a cutting edge for cutting a spider from the end ot' the strip, a die member cooperating with the sleeve and with it serving to bend the `legs of the said spider at right angles to the plane of the latter, a support for holding the two pieces of mesh in ai'plane with their edges parallel but spaced apart, a plunger within the sleeve operating to inseit the legs oi' the spider acted upon through a plurality or' rings at theedges of the pieces of mesh, a die member cooperat-ll ing with the plunger and serving to turn the inserted legs inwardly to secure the rings entered, the said die member being operable lto engage successiveigroupsof rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh and to `move the lpieces oitl mesh to place these rings in position to receive the legs of the spider, and means tor operating the said die members.

` spider iroin the end of thestrip and `to cause the sleeve and die lmember to coact to bendthe legs o't the said spider'iat right angles to the plane o'tthe spider and for then advancing the sleeve to a position close to the plane oi the pieces of mesh, a plunger within the sleeve operable to cause'the legs oi the spider to enter-a plurality of rings at the edges oi the pieces of mesh, a second ldie member counting with the plunger and adapted `to bend the legs inserted inwardly to secure the rings so entered, the second die member being operable to engage successive groups of rings at the edges of the piece of mesh and to advance the pieces of mesh to bring these rings into position to receive a spider, and mean-s tor' operating the die members and the plunger. i

23.111 a machine for uniting pieces of fabric 'consisting' of rings connected by spiders, the combination of a support for holding the two pieces ot mesh to be united in a plane withl their edges parallel Abut spaced apart, a diemember"` having means for entering a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh and movable to advance the pieces of mesh with a step-bystep movement, means for holding a supply of spieler' material in the form of a strip, a

`second die memberI lying beneath the spider at the end of the strip, a tool movable toward and away from the strip and carrying means for cutting a spider from the end of the strip and, in co-action with the second die member', bending the legs of the spider at right angles to the plane of the latter,

ythis tool being operable thereafter to insert the legs of the spider through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh and, in cio-action with the first die member, to bend these legs inwardly to secure the rings so entered.

2li. In a machine for uniting pieces of fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combination of a support for holding the two pieces of mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel but spaced apart, a die member movable toward and away from the pieces of mesh and also in a direction parallel to the plane in which they lie, this die member carrying means for entering a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh whereby the pieces of mesh are moved on their support by the die member, means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, a slide reciprocable parallel to the plane of the strip and carrying means for engaging the strip and al die member lying beneath the end of the strip, a pair of slides movable toward and away from the strip and also relatively movable, a sleeve having a cutting edge carried by one of these slides, a plunger Within the sleeve carried by the other slide, and means for moving the first slide to cause the sleeve to cut a spider from the stripand then to cooperate with the second die member to cause the legs of this spider to be bent at right angles to the plane of the spider, the said means then acting to move the sleeve with the spider mounted in it to a position directly above a plurality ofl rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, and means for moving the slide carrying the plunger' relative to the sleeve to cause the plunger to force the spider out of the sleeve and to insert its legs through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, the plunger also co-acting` with the die member lirst mentioned near the end of its movement to turn these legs inwardly to secure the rings so entered.

25. In a machine for uniting pieces of fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combination of means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, a slide reciprocated parallel to the plane of the strip, means carried by the slide for ,engaging the strip and advancing it with the slide, a die member carried with the slide lying beneath the end spider of the strip, and means adapted to cut the end spider from the strip and, in co-action with the die member, to bend the legs of this spider at right angles to the plane of the latter.

26. In a machine for uniting pieces of fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combination of means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, means for advancingthe strip with a step-b y-ste1') nmvcment, a pair of tools operating at cach period of rest of the movement for cutting a spider from the end of the strip and bending the legs of this spider at right angles to its plane, a support for holding th-e pieces of mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel but spaced apart, means for inserting the legs of the spider acted upon by the tools through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, and a die member cooperating with the said means to bend the inserted legs inwardly to secure the rings so entered, the said die member being movable to engage a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh and to advance the pieces of mesh to bring these rings into position to receive the legs of the spider.

27. In amachine for uniting pieces of fabric consisting of rings connected by spiders, the combination of means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, a reeiprocable slide carrying means for engaging and advancing the strip with the slid-e and also carrying a die member lying beneath the end of the strip, and a tool coeting with the die member and movable to sever a spider from the end of the strip and bend the legs of this spider at right angles to its plane.

2S. In a machine for uniting pieces of fabric consisting of rings connected by spie ders, the combination of means for holding a supply of spider material in the form of a strip, a reciproeable slide carrying means for engaging and advancing the strip with the slide and also carrying a die member lying beneath the end of the strip, a tool operable to sever the spider from the ,end of the strip and, in co-action with the die member, to bend the legs of (his spider at right angles lo its plane, a support for holding the [wo pieces of mesh to be united in a plane with their edges parallel. but spaced apart, means for advancin the tool and the spidertmvard the pieces of mesh on the support, a plunger within the tool operable to insert the legs of the spider through a plurality of rings at the edges of the pieces of mesh, and a second die member adapted to cooperate with the plunger `to bend the `inserted legs of the spider inwardly to secure the rings entered.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

FRED HA BRIS LYNDS. 

